Group Pushes For High School Alternative

Based upon feedback from a group opposing a third high school, the Fort Smith School Board agreed Monday to consider alternatives.

Based upon feedback from a group opposing a third high school, the Fort Smith School Board agreed Monday to consider alternatives.

The board is planning for a $60 million to $75 million high school on 98 acres of donated land at Chaffee Crossing. The high school, an events center and fine arts building are part of the district’s six-year master facilities plan adopted by the school board Jan. 27.

"A group of citizens has asked us to do an independent, comprehensive study of all our district facilities to determine if there are other alternatives which might save money for the district, as well as the city of Fort Smith," school board member Deanie Mehl said during Monday’s monthly board meeting.

The group of 18 people, some representing the business community, submitted to Superintendent Benny Gooden a list of its concerns and a suggested alternative to a third high school. Concerns included:

• Loss of students and families from the core of the city, which "could lead to economic deterioration."

• Inability of low income and minority students on the north and west sides to "attend a new high school with nicer amenities."

• What the group describes as "the further division of our community" with three high schools.

In the group’s letter, it states, "We believe the focus of any facilities expansion and/or proposal to increase taxes on our citizens should be on how this investment will improve the academic outcomes of all students."

The group’s suggested alternative is "expansion and reinvestment in our two existing high schools."

"Reinvestment in our existing high schools rather than construction of a new high school would allow all of the district’s students to benefit from a millage increase now," the group’s letter states.

On Monday, the school board voted to seek a third party to conduct a comprehensive study of all the district’s facilities. School board member Wyman R. "Rick" Wade Jr. questioned how much a study might cost the district.

"That will be my only concern, I guess, is how much it’s going to cost us to get this answer," he said.

Gooden was asked to recommend a company for the job.

"There are a lot of people out there who will sell you a study," Gooden said. "You need somebody who knows a little bit about schools. If that’s the will of the board, we’ll do that."

Fort Smith currently has 19 elementary schools, four junior high schools, two high schools, an adult education center and an alternative learning center.

Enrollment has grown by more than 1,450 students in the last 10 years. This school year, enrollment is about 14,300. By the year 2023, enrollment could breach 17,000, according to the district.

A millage increase would be needed for the high school and other proposed building projects, according to educators. The school district’s millage rate since 1987 has remained 36.6.

"We have been evaluating what to do with our increased enrollment for quite a few years," Mehl said. "We all realize we have four choices. We can do nothing, we could have portable buildings, we could expand our two existing (high schools) or go with a third."

A timeline for the third high school shows a tax proposal in voters’ hands in September 2015. If approved, construction could begin in summer 2016, with completion by fall 2018.

"I know in terms of building a third school, I share some of the concerns the group has here," school board member David Hunton said. "But as Dr. Mehl has pointed out many times, one of the keys has always been that we try to make all of our schools as effective and equal as we can.

"We need a millage increase even if we weren’t building a third high school."